Unsung heroes? How hoverflies play key pollination role

That bee you see buzzing from flower to flower might actually be an undercover operator: a hoverfly. And a team of scientists wants you to stop taking them for granted. The decline of bee populations in mass die-offs, sometimes called colony collapse disorder, has made headlines in recent years. Experts blame mites, viruses and pesticides for the phenomenon, which threatens the global food supply chain because bees fertilise three out of every four crops grown around the world. Now a team of scientists is hoping the increased attention on the importance of pollination to our natural habitat will cast a light on the often-overlooked role of the hoverfly. Read more.....